China's biotech expansion unstoppable despite US pressure, execs say

China's biotechnology sector is advancing its global expansion efforts, a trend considered irreversible by industry insiders, despite facing increasing regulatory and national security-related barriers from the United States.

Zhang Jun, co-head of the global healthcare group at Citic Securities, stated at a summit in Shenzhen that while the U.S. has erected numerous obstacles, the global commercialization of Chinese biotech products is unstoppable. He noted that tight fiscal conditions in markets such as Europe are making governments more open to innovative Chinese drugs and medical devices that offer significant cost-performance advantages.

Overseas markets are recognized as the most profitable segment of the global pharmaceutical value chain, with the U.S. remaining the most lucrative drug market. According to Citic Securities, Chinese companies now participate in roughly half of all global biotechnology business development deals, including out-licensing agreements. Beijing has identified biotechnology as a strategic industry to foster economic growth.

Ren Feng, co-CEO and chief scientific officer of Insilico Medicine, emphasized the necessity of international expansion for Chinese biotech firms, stating that focusing solely on the domestic market would limit future potential. He identified a key weakness for Chinese companies in global expansion as a general lack of large overseas clinical teams, suggesting that pursuing business development deals is the primary path forward.